Children

Children below the age of 6 cannot take part in cruises with MS Santa Cruz. For children under the age of 12 that board MS Santa Cruz a release of responsibility will need to be signed by the parents or guardian of the minor upon arrival to the vessel since cruise facilities are not adapted for children and there are no child-care facilities nor child-minders on board.

Disabled Cabins / Mobility

Travel to Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands is not suitable for wheelchair users. Santa Cruz II has no wheelchair friendly ramps, cabins or elevators.

What to Wear

Weather in Galapagos is good year-round. January to April, showers can be expected, so make sure you have a light rain jacket or poncho with you. These rains are usually not long and may be followed by strong sun and high humidity. It is best to wear light, cotton clothing in layers. June to October is dryer but cooler. A light windbreaker comes handy as well as the rule of cotton clothing in layers. Months not mentioned here are transitional, showing a blend of the two conditions described above and vary from year to year.

The climate in Quito is characterized by a constant temperature year-round. Most rainfall (rainy season) is in April, warmest month is September with a maximum average temperature of 22°C (72°F), the coldest month is September with a maximum average temperature of 21°C (69°F), July is the driest month, August is the most sunny month.

The climate in Cusco (starting point for Machu Picchu) is marked by two seasons: Rainy (from November to April) and dry (from May to October). During the rainy season the temperature is higher (between 7° and 21° C) and during the dry season, lower (between 0° and 20° C).

Year round- good walking shoes are recommended (tennis or trainers) for the hikes. Trails vary in difficulty, but most are of volcanic nature. In some trails, and for wet landings, some guests appreciate aqua-shoes.

Lightweight, breathable cotton trousers, convertible to shorts have proven to be useful for all seasons. Make sure you bring one or two bathing suits. When travelling in high altitudes (Quito and Cusco) bring a warm sweater, gloves, scarf and rain jacket.

Hat with a broad rim and a strap are advisable year-round.

For the cooler months, wetsuits (2mm shorties) are available for rent at a cost of $17 USD + tax per guest for the entire cruise. 

Alcohol Policy

Guests who wish to bring bottles of wine and/or spirits aboard Santa Cruz II, will be charged a corkage fee of US $27+taxes.

Cabins

All cabins have the same size window and private facilities.

The tap water in your cabin is desalinized, but not potable. For your convenience, chilled drinking water dispensers are available in the Horizon, Expedition, and Sun decks.

You may experience some noise and vibration in some of the cabins. This varies depending on the location of your cabin. Also, noise affects people differently and what may be a problem for one guest may not be a problem for others.

Drones

Drones are not allowed in Galapagos. Flash photography is not allowed on wildlife. Professional photography of filming requires a special permit of the National Park Directorate.

Equipment Loans

Santa Cruz II equipment includes sit-on-top kayaks, paddle board, a glass bottom boat, and snorkelling gear (mesh-bags, masks, fins, tubes and buoyancy vests). The use of all these are free of charge. These activities are regulated by the National Park and must always be under the supervision of a licensed naturalist guide.

Guests must attend a short safety briefing before these activities are held. Safety briefings and release documents are mandatory for participation in these activities.

Wetsuits are available for rent in all sizes, from XXS to XXL for around $17 USD + tax per guest for the entire cruise. These are 2mm shorties.

All gear provided by the ship is cleaned and disinfected under the medical officer´s supervision. A brand-new mouthpiece is given to each snorkeler when using the ship´s gear.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi Internet connection is available onboard for an added cost of $40 USD + tax for the duration of the cruise, but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth. Limited complimentary wi-fi access is available for suite guests.

Internet is only available in public areas.

All cell phones must be on AIRPLANE MODE for all trails within the National Park.

Cellular coverage is patchy, very low and restricted to the vicinity of populated Islands (Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands).

Language

Santa Cruz II sails under Ecuadorian flag; the working language on board is Spanish. Announcements for guests are given in English, and may also be given in German, French, Spanish or Italian depending on guests travelling. Lectures are held in different languages in different rooms.

Laundry

Laundry service is not available on board Santa Cruz II. Two domestic-type washer/dryers are available 24hours on the entrance to the Expedition Deck for free, together with instructions, baskets and biodegradable detergent. 

Lifesaving Equipment, Life vests and Safety on Board

Santa Cruz II complies with GALAPAGOS BIOCONTROL AGENCY (ABG) AND ISPS (International Ship and Port Security System) regulations, where all luggage is subject to X-ray/metal and organic/biosecurity inspection prior to boarding the aircraft in mainland Ecuador. These inspections include carry-on screening before and after the Ecuador-Galapagos flight.

Santa Cruz complies with international safety requirements and is a modern vessel suitable for sailing in Galapagos.

The first day´s programme includes a short but complete mandatory safety briefing about safety on board and during landing operations. This briefing is followed by the compulsory boat drill exercise.

A separate safety briefing is held prior to the first snorkelling, kayaking or paddle boarding opportunity.

During the sailing, special safety regulations will apply on landings with the Expedition boats. Please follow the instructions given by the Expedition Leader and crew/staff. Special life jackets for use during landings will be provided to all passengers

Smoking Policy

On board, smoking is only permitted in designated areas on outside decks, where ashtrays are available. Smoking is not permitted in cabins. Throwing cigarette butts overboard is strictly prohibited.

Special Requests

If you have special requests (e.g. dietary or medical), please inform us as soon as possible, and no later than 8 weeks prior to your cruise departure. We will do our best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and under no circumstance will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of a contractual agreement.

Suite Service

Welcome greeting

On embarkation day, all guests will receive a complimentary Galapagos wildlife book and a reusable water bottle. Suite guests will receive an additional welcome gift in their cabin.

Turn-down service

Suite guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.

Wi-fi

Suite guests will receive limited complimentary Wi-fi access. Additional wi-fi is available for purchase, but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth.

Wetsuit rental

Wetsuit rental is complimentary for suite guests on request. 

Walking on board

We kindly remind you to take care when walking on board the ship while at sea, especially when venturing out on deck, observing the signs for warnings of wet and slippery decks.

Small Boat Landings

Guests are respectfully reminded that our expedition boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings in Galapagos. Should the ocean conditions be rough, our Expedition leader and the Officer on duty may do a scouting of the landing site to determine the safety of the programme. In the very rare event of a change in programme, the Expedition leader will announce the best alternative to all guests via PA system.

You will need to be fairly agile to board the Expedition boats, but there is otherwise no need to worry about travelling in them. The crew will show you what to do and, as long as you follow their instructions, after a few times it will become second nature.

For our glass-bottom boat outings, guests will transfer from the Expedition boats (pangas). Please follow the instructions of the expedition team to ensure everyone´s safety.

In some sites, snorkelling is done from the expedition boats (pangas) into the sea. To come back, a ladder is placed over the boat´s pontoon. Follow the instructions of the expedition team, as for all activities.

Visits to Galapagos may have one of these 3 possible landings:

NO LANDING: There is no trail on shore. Visitors are restricted to the expedition boats (pangas). You may wear water shoes, sandals or go barefoot.

WET LANDINGS: This type of disembarking process is commonly made right on the edge of the beach, with the panga operator moving the small craft up against the sandy shores to have guests slide off the pontoons near the stern of the zodiac. Consequently, guests will almost always get their feet wet in the process. Some guests prefer to wear water shoes for this type of landing, dry their feet at the beach with the special beach towels we provide (free of charge) and put on the sturdier footwear for the trail. Upon return the process is reversed.

DRY LANDINGS: There is a dock or solid surface available for our guests to step off the dinghy without getting their feet wet. you’ll always count on the helping hands of the naturalist guides and/or the dinghy operator to safely disembark at the visitor site. You can wear your sturdy footwear right out of your cabin.

Due to the fragility of the archipelago, guides will request all guests to knock-off any dirt attached to the soles of your footwear or dip them in the water before boarding the zodiac. Upon boarding Santa Cruz, this will be enhanced with the fresh water hoses available at the stern platform.

Seasickness

If you are prone to seasickness, it is recommended that you bring pills that you are familiar with. A local brand of motion sickness pills is always available free of charge at the reception in the Horizon Deck. 

Mail

Mailboxes and stamps are available at the Baltra Airport, and in Puerto Ayora. Be aware that the delivery may take a long time.

Hurtigruten App

The Hurtigruten APP is your digital guide onboard, it is recommended to download it before you come onboard, To be able to follow the activities on board, make restaurant reservation, book tours and find A-Z info here from the minute you step onboard. The App will only work while you are on board as it is connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.  

Food & Beverage

All meals are designed by our Le Cordon Bleu-certified Gastronomic Director. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are buffet-style in the Beagle Restaurant on the Ocean deck. No reservations are required and the attire is always casual. We only ask our guests not to enter the dining area in bathing suit or barefoot.

Please provide information regarding special requests for seating arrangements and dietary requirements to Hurtigruten Expeditions or your travel agent before your cruise.

House beer, wine, and soft drinks are available at lunch and dinner. Coffee, tea, and potable water that has been purified on board is included throughout the day. Complimentary still and sparkling water is provided for all meals. Other beverages, including cocktails, and an upgraded beverage package is also available for purchase.

Cruise Card

Santa Cruz II will not provide keys to your cabins, nor a cruise card. Cabins may be locked from the interior. Each cabin has a safety box, and corridors are monitored by closed-circuit cameras.

Upon check-in, a shipboard account (SA) will be opened for you. You may register your credit card at this time to facilitate and speed up check-out procedures on your last day. Credit Cards accepted in Ecuador include: Diners Club, Visa, American Express and Master Card. Our staff will request you to sign a receipt to acknowledge your consumption before charging it to your shipboard account.

The local currency in Ecuador is the US DOLLAR, and ATMs are available at the mainland airports, as well as in Baltra airport and in the towns of Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

No gratuities are expected onboard. Suggested gratuities for services on land will be shared in your travel documents.